Wild and Scenic River
LRBC members had the possibility of National Wild and Scenic River designation for the Lumber River on their radar for several years. In 1989 they contacted officials in the Atlanta office of the Department of Interior’s National Park Service. Wallace Brittain (letter one, letter two) and Mary Rountree, staffers with the NPS, met with LRBC members and offered their assistance in getting together the data and the application for inclusion in the national system. On the federal level, Congressman Charlie Rose was an early supporter of the LRBC’s activities, having regaled attendees at the group’s 1983 annual banquet and again at it's 1991 annual banquet (page one, page two) with his legislative insights and anecdotes.
On April 15, 1996, Gov. James B. Hunt petitioned Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, to designate 115 miles of the Lumber River as a state-managed national wild and scenic river under Section 2(a)(ii) of The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Less than a year later, The Preliminary Analysis published in March, 1997 indicated the Lumber River could qualify for federal designation based on its largely undeveloped, un-impounded and unpolluted status. The NPS conducted a public meeting on April 23, 1997 in Lumberton to discuss the significance of Wild and Scenic designation of the river and offered residents an opportunity to express their thoughts or to raise issues needing to be addressed. LRBC members were in attendance.
On April 6, 1998, the NPS released a draft of the eligibility report and environmental assessment for public and agency review to anyone with an interest in designation of the Lumber River. Notice was made in the Federal Register on the same date, and area newspapers announced availability of the report. There was a public comment period of 45 days that allowed for receipt of written comments. This was extended for 21 days with comments being postmarked by June 12, 1998. A requisite 90-day review period by affected federal agencies under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA) ended on July 6, 1998. No objections to the designation were recorded in the written comments.
Following National Park Service recommendations based on its July, 1998 “Eligibility Report and Environmental Assessment”, Secretary Babbitt added 81 miles of the 115 mile- long state river-park to the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers program on September 28, 1998. It was the 155th river added to the federal system in its 30 year existence. As described in a letter from Wallace Brittain, the designation came in two sections: the upper section from State Road 1412 (Old Turnpike Road) ending at Highway 71 near Maxton designated “wild and scenic” covering 22 miles and the second section spanning 59 miles from Back Swamp to the NC/SC state line designated “recreational and natural”.
The 17 mile section flowing through Lumberton required passage of an ordinance to the city’s code by establishing a Lumber River Protection Overlay District to meet WSRA guidelines. Letters of support for the section came from Gov. Jim Hunt, NRCD Sec. Phil McKnelly, and from The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers and many individuals.
The 81 miles of the Federally designated Wild and Scenic River coincide with several segments of the state park, and by agreement, is state maintained. The segment just upstream of Lumberton is classified differently: High-quality/Outstanding Resource Water by the N.C. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality. An undesignated 10-mile segment of the Lumber flows into South Carolina. The 34 mile section from NC 71 to Back Swamp remains undesignated, awaiting compliance with WSRA criteria.
The official designation ceremony was held Oct. 3, 1998 at Princess Anne. On hand were N.C. Senators R.C. Soles and David Weinstein, N.C. House members Ron Sutton, Dewey Hill and Doug Yongue. Danny DeVane, Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Transportation, was present to celebrate his key role nine years earlier in getting state park designation. Sheri Evans-Stanton, assistant secretary for NRCD, said: “We’re 81 miles closer to ensuring clean water for future generations of North Carolinians. Folks in the Lumber River basin have worked long and hard to preserve this high-quality water and we’re proud that it’s a part of the state park system.” A park ranger paddled a canoe out to mid-stream for freshman U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre to cut the ceremonial red ribbon spanning the width of the river. The local newspaper, The Robesonian, estimated 500 people participated in the event on a radiant autumn day.
Unimpeded flow of designated rivers is a requirement of the Wild and Scenic Act. As early as 1991, a canal dug to the river in Columbus County was observed by several committee members who knew it was a violation. The co-chairs notified Secretary Cobey who then contacted the Army Corps of Engineers. A series of letters shows how the Army Corps of Engineers dealt with the "dredge and fill".
Five years after the designation, James Sessoms became the first state park superintendent upon his transfer from Bladen Lakes State Park in November, 1993. Neal Lee was the first ranger and succeeded Sessoms as superintendent in 2006, followed by Lane Garner in 2017. Brett Godwin was appointed superintendent in Dec., 2021. Park staff were charged with maintenance of park facilities as they were being developed. They cleared a channel for canoes and small boats, and led canoe trips and outings. Educational outings were offered to school aged youngsters and adult groups, often with upwards of 25-30 individuals participating. Interpretation of the ecological features of the park and its riverine environs were popular topics. Discussions of plant or animal species endemic to the area were also of great interest, especially when the subjects were birds and reptiles.
Dickson McLean, Jr. and Hector MacLean, both from Lumberton, incorporated the Lumber River Conservancy in 1991, and through it and the Nature Conservancy added significant acreage to the park by donations, acquisitions and conservation easements. As of 2023, the Lumber River is N.C.’s fourth largest state park with 13,677 acres, and is the longest riverine park covering the widest geographical area in NC.
The acreage at Princess Anne was reportedly acquired in an eleventh-hour intervention to stop subdivision into lots for sale by the owners. Identified as the ideal spot for the southern park headquarters, campground, picnic shelter and boating access, the state of NC exercised its authority to convince the owners to relinquish their hold on the property and accept compensation.
The Citizens Advisory Committee developed a video presentation to be shared with libraries, schools, and civic groups in the area. The members also offered input to bring to completion the Lumber River Master Plan. Lumber River Days at Princess Anne and the Chalk Banks Challenge at Wagram are popular events sponsored each summer by the park staff and advisory committee members. Canoe races and homemade whacky-watercraft regattas, static displays, craft sales, music and canoe rides are features of the celebrations.
In order to ensure safety, LRCAC members sought assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Wildlife Resources Commission, the state legislature and others for maintenance of a passageway for small boats. (LRBC members took it upon themselves to do this on several occasions before park staff members were employed.